Flexible line marker



Aug. 11, 1 942.

G. c, HENNE FLEXIBLE LINE MARKER Filed May 29, 1940 Patented Aug. 11,1942 UNITED STATES 7 OFFICE 2,292,785 FLEXIBLE LINE MARKER George G;Henne, 'Herrin', Ill. Application May 29, 1940,, Serial Nb- 331,939

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of markers or position indicators.and pertains particularly to a device which is especially desirable foruse as-line markers On athletic fields.

The present invention: has for its primary object to provide. a positionindicator or line marker which may be mounted vertically on the ground 7and Which is so constructed that it will easily yield if struck by aplayer on the field where the marker is used and thus avoid throwing orinjuring such player;

Another object of the invention is to provide a marker, comprising arelatively wide and high body which is connected to ground penetratingpins in such manner that when the pins are forced into the ground so asto maintain the body vertically, the body may be bent over against theground sothat it will not form an obstruction on a playing field, thecharacter of the supporting} means for the marker being such, however,that in the event that it is bent over, it will return immediately toits vertical position when released.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strictconformity with the showing. of the drawing but may be changed ormodified so'long' as such changes or modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention as expressed in'theappended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 illustrates a marker'constructed in accordancewith the present invention, the same being shown in perspective and withportions broken away.

Fig. 2 illustrates in detail a method of connecting an end of the panelbordering spring body with a ground penetrating stake, the same being'asection on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fi 1.

Fig; 4 is a view illustrating another method of attaching an end of thespring to a stake.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I generallydesignates a panel of yieldable or flexible material such as wovenmaterial which may be in the form of canvas of suitable weight. Thispanel may be of double thickness as illustrated in Fig. 3, the twosheets of material, each of which is indicated by the numeral 2, beingplaced one against the other and. stitched together along the line 3throughout two side edges and a transverse edge constituting the top ofthe panel, the line of stitching being a substantial distance inwardlyfrom the edges of the material,-as illustrated. The two sheets. of.material may then be secured together at their edges. and along a linespaced from the line 3, as indicated at 4 in Fig: 3, so as to form a hemor guide 5 throughout the said three edges of the .panel and the twopieces of material 2 may also be stitched together along the bottom edgeof the panelia'sindicated atli.

Itwill, of course be. readily understood that a single sheet ofmaterialv may make up the panel if desired, in whichicasea'suitablehemorguide might be formed. throughout its side and top edgesin a manner well known to seamstresses.

Extended through the hem 5 is a single length of coil spring which isindicated by the numeral 1. Each end of such length of coil'springextends slightly from an end; of the hem or guide 5, as shown in Fig. 2,anddue to the tendency of such a spring body to straighten out, it willbe readily apparent that this spring border around the panel willconstantly tend to pull the panel fiat as each of the end portions willtend to move outwardly away from the other portion, thereby tighteningthe edge along which the line of stitching 6 extends.

'Figs. 2 and 4 illustrate two methods of securing ground penetratingstakes or pegs to the panel. In- Fig. 1, there are indicated two groundpenetrating stakes, each of which is indicated by the numeral 8, thestakes being in the dotted outline and Fig. 2 shows one of such stakesin full lines,

with the upper end thereof coupled with an end of the coil spring I Thisform of coupling comprises tapering or reducing the end of the spring 1,as indicated at 9, and providing the upper end of the stake 8 with anencircling channel ll), thereby forming a head H which is of greaterwidth at its upper end than at its lower end and also forming a shoulderl2 at-the point of joinder between the head and the stake body. Thetapered reduced portionof the end of the spring engages around andsubstantially conforms to the taper of the head I I, thereby firmlygripping the head and establishing a positive connection between thespring and stake. Both stakes 8 are, of course, secured each to an endof the spring I in the manner described.

In the form of connection shown in Fig. 4, the stake which is indicatedby the numeral 13, is provided at its upper end with threads 14 pitchedto conform to the pitch of. the convolutions cf the spring which is hereindicated by the numeral l5. Each end of the spring I remains straightinstead of being tapered in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and is designedto act as a sleeve into which the threaded upper end portion of thestake I3 is turned. By this means, a substantial fixed connection isestablished between the stake and an end of the spring frame for thepanel.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that when the deviceembodying the present invention is set up for use as, for example, upona football field where the panel may bear the number of one of thedivision lines, it may be mounted directly at the end of such divisionline as shown in Fig. 1, so that spectators and players may readily seethe marking on the panel, and it will also be readily apparent that whenthe securing pegs for the panel have been forced into the ground untilthe ends of the coil spring frame for the panel come into contact withthe ground, the panel may be struck or kicked from either side withoutbeing damaged and it will readily yield under such a blow. Because ofthe yield: able character of the frame, a player striking the same willnot be likely to be thrownor at least will not be injured by strikingthe panel and also the panel will immediately return to its uprightposition after being struck.

What is claimed is:

l. A yieldable marker of the character stated, comprising an indiciabearing panel formed of a sheet of soft material and having a bottomedge, means joined to said panel along the periphery thereof from oneend of the bottom edge to the other and having an inherent tendency toforce apart opposite edges of the panel to maintain said panel inflattened condition, and means connected with said first means adjacentto said bottom edge for engagement with the ground to maintain the panelin upright position.

2. A marker, comprising a sheet-like body of soft material and having abottom edge, resilient means extending along the periphery of said bodyexclusive of the bottom edge and secured thereto under a tensionedcondition and constantly drawing said body into a flattened-outcondition through its tendency to return to normal form, and meansconnected with said flexible means substantially at said bottom edge forsupporting the body vertically.

3. A marker, comprising a panel formed of a sheet of soft material andhaving a bottom edge, means forming a guide along the periphery of thepanel exclusive of said bottom edge, said guide having two portions inparallel relation and upon opposite sides of the panel, a length of coilspring extending through said guide and held thereby in bent flexedcondition, the tendency of the flexed spring to resume a straightenedout condition functioning to hold the panel taut, and means connectedwith the ends of the spring substantially at the said bottom edge forsupporting the panel vertically.

4. A marker, comprising a panel formed of a sheet of soft material andhaving a bottom edge,

a coil spring bent from an initial straight condi-' tion to a conditionin which two end portions are in angular relation to an intermediateportion, means for attaching said end portions of the spring to oppositeedges of the panel, said panel forming the sole connection between saidend portions and the inherent tendency of the spring to return to itsnormal condition functioning to maintain the panel taut between said endportions, and means connected to the ends of the spring substantially atsaid bottom edge for supporting the panel in upright condition.

5. A marker, comprising a panel formed of a sheet of soft material andhaving a bottom edge, a coil spring bent from an initial straightcondition to a condition in which two end portions are in angularrelation to an intermediate portion, means for attaching said endportions of the spring to opposite edges of the panel, said panel 4forming the sole connection between said end portions and the inherenttendency of the spring to return to its normal condition functioning tomaintain the panel taut between said end portions, and means forsupporting the panel in upright condition, comprising a pair of groundpenetrating pegs each having a portion of an end secured in an endportion of the spring substantially at said bottom edge of the panel.

6. A yieldable marker, comprising a coil spring flexed transversely froma straightened condition, a panel of soft material connected betweenremote portions of said flexed spring and holding said portions againstseparation and thereby being maintained taut by the inherent tendency ofthe spring to return to its straightened out condition, the panel havinga bottom edge extending between said remote portions and means connectedwith the ends of the spring adjacent to said bottom edge and forming asupport therefor and for the panel to maintain the panel in displayposition, said spring further functioning to yield with respect. to thelast-mentioned means for the temporary deflection of the panel from itsdisplay position.

7. A marker, comprising a substantially rectangular panel of softmaterial, a coil spring outlining three of four sides of the panel andsecured to the panel and maintained under tension against a tendency tostraighten out, and a ground penetrating peg having an end secured in anend of the spring with the said end of the peg located substantially atthe edge of the fourth side.

8. A marker, comprising a substantially rectangular panel of softmaterial, a coil spring outlining three of four sides of the panel andsecured to the panel and maintained under tension solely by the materialof the panel, against a tendency to straighten out, each end of saidspring being tapered off to a reduced diameter, and a peg connected atone end with each of said spring ends substantially at the edge of thefourth side of the panel and having a head engaged in the tapered end ofthe spring to effect such connection.

GEORGE C. HENNE.

